Ribbon-reversing mechanism for type-writing machines



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I F. P. STILES. RIBBON REVERSING MEGHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

No. 521,091. Patented June 5,1894.

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'F. P. STILES. I RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MAGHINES. o. 521,091.

Patented June 5', 1894.

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FRED PHELPS STILES, OF SPARTA, WISCONSIN.

RIBBON-REVERSING MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,091, dated June 5, 1894.

Application filed April 3,1 898. Serial No. 468,916- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED PHELPS STILES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Monroe, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon-Reversing Mechanism for Type-Writers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to typewriting machines and particularly to instrumentalities for automatically operating the ribbon shifting mechanism to reverse the ribbon when the same has reached the end of any desired point in its travel.

' The object of the invention is to relieve the operator of the vigilance generally required to obtain a continuous feed so that the end of the ribbon may not be reached unaware and the keys operated without leaving an impression which is usually the case when the operator is not on the alert to discover when the end of the ribbon has been reached so as reverse the ribbon.

A further object of the invention is to util-.

ize the ribbon as a prime means for actuat ing the ribbon shifting mechanism, said ribbon being provided with suitably disposed stops to actuate devices whereby the ribbon shifting mechanism is operated to automatically reverse the ribbon.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a trip connected with the ribbon shifting mechanism, and a device to be actuated by the stops on the ribbon to throw the said arm in such relative position as to be struck by a stop or other portion of the carriage when moving the same to a position to begin a new line, whereby the ribbon shifting mechanism is operated positively from the said carriage.

A still further purpose of the invention is the provision of a spring or equivalent device to normally exert a pressure on the ribbon Shifting mechanism to hold the same at the limit of its movement in one direction, and a stop to hold the said ribbon shifting mechanism against the pressure of the said spring and adapted to be actuated by a stop on the ribbon to release the said ribbon shifting mechanism and permit the said spring to re gain itself and reverse the ribbon.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a frame of a typewriting machine of the style generally known as the Caligraph, showing the application of my invention, a portion of the carriage being shown to illustrate the relative disposition of the parts. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the plate carrying the stop for holding the ribbon shifting mechanism against the tension of the spring by means of which the said ribbon shifting mechanism is actuated to reverse the ribbon. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the trip or arm,which is carried by and attached to the ribbon shifting mechanism, the counterbalanced shaft carrying an arm to elevate the said trip and bring it in position to be struck 'by the stop or other portion of the carriage, and the ribbon showing the stop thereon for engaging 3 provided with the adjustable extension or.

projection O, a shifting bar E, the ribbon spools 4 and 5 having the usual ratchet and pawl mechanism for operating the same are of well known construction and arrangement and are illustrated simply to show the application and operation of thepresent invention. A trip or arm B is pivotally connected at one end to the upwardly bent end of the shifting bar E and extends approximately in a horizontal position suitably supported at its free.

end, preferably on the ribbon guide. This too trip or arm is of suilieient length and con struction to be projected at the proper time within the path of the stop or projection O to be struck by the latter to move the bar E to the right and reverse the ribbon.

An elevating arm 6 is provided to be actuated at the proper time so as to engage with the free end of the trip B and project the same within the path of the extension or projection O. This elevating arm 0 is attached to the bar or shaft A which is journaled in the frame 1 and is counterbalanced so as to normally hold the elevated arm 6 out of engagement with the trip B. A plate 7 attached to the frame projects sufficiently far to form a stop to engage with the elevating arm 6 and support and limit the movement of the same when not in engagement with the trip or arm B. To prevent the elevating arm 6 from moving too far forward when the bar or shaft A is actuated an offset or shoulder d is formed on the under side of the arm or trip B to engage with the said arm 6.

The bar or shaft A is arranged parallel with the axis or shaft of the spool 5 and is provided with one or more trip arms 8 which normally have their free ends projected within thepath of a stop 9 on the ribbon 10 to be struck by the said step to effect a reverse of the ribbon in the manner hereinafter set forth. This bar or shaft A is counterbalanced, preferably by a weighted arm 11 secured to the outer end thereof, and which is adapted to extend in a vertical direction when the bar Eis at the limit of its movement to the left, and which when the trip arms 8 are struck by the stop 9 so as to move the weighted arm 11 from the perpendicular will gravitate and bring the elevating arm 6 under the freeend of the trip B and bring the latter in position to be struck by the extension 0 when moving the carriage 3 to the left to commence a new line.

A spring D is provided to exert a constant pressure or force on the bar E to move the lattertothe left when released. This spring may be conveniently located and replaced by equivalent devices to effect the same result. For convenience it is shown located at the endof the frame 1 and is attached at one end thereto, the free end being constructed to press on the bar E in such a manner as to move the same to the left.

. A plate or bar II is located at the opposite endof the frame 1 and has a projection or stop It to extend across the path of a lug or stop e nearthe end of the shifting bar E to hold the latter at the limit of its movement to the right against the pressure of the spring D. This plate or bar If is attached to the frame in such a manner as to be readily removed to disengage the parts I'I thereof from the parts e on the shifting bar E to release the latter and permit the spring D to move the said bar E to the left and reverse the ribbon. A trip J is attached to and carried by the plate II and extends within the j with the trip J is assured.

has that portion opposite and within the path of the ribbon made double toprovide parallel portion between which the ribbon travel. By this means a positive engagement of the stop The ribbon 10 has the stops j at opposite ends so that the ribbon shifting mechanism will be actuated to reverse .the ribbon when each end is reached. Obviously, if required for any purpose these stops and 9 may be located at any point on the ribbon to effect a reverse thereof at the required points in its feed. By this construction differ- :ent colored ribbons may beused on this machine, each color occupying a certain length of the ribbon and provided at opposite ends with stopsj and 9 so that the required color may be used and the ribbon reversedwithout an y at tention on the part of the operator.

InFig. 1 the parts are shown in position and the ribbon feeding toward or winding upon the spool 4. As the ribbon is unwound from the spool 5 on the right, and the end thereof is reached the stop 9 will engage with the trap arms 8, one or the other, and move the latter a sufficient distance to throw the weighted arm 11 from the perpendicular. This weightedarm in gravitatin g will turn the shaft or bar A and cause the elevated arm 6 to come beneath the free end of the trip or arm 13 and project the same Within the path of the extension 0. On

moving the carriage 3 to the right to begin a effect a reverse of the ribbon in the well known manner. As the bar E moves to the right the stop e will ride under the projection h which will drop behind the said stop 9 and hold the bar E to the right against the pressure of the spring D. As the ribbon unwinds from the spoolt and the end orportion thereof is reached having the stop j the latter will engage with the trip J and move the plate H so as to disengage thestop h from the stopeand release the bar E. The spring D will move the bar E to the left and reverse the ribbon. The stops on the ribbon may be provided in any desired manner and are preferably strips attached thereto.

The different colored ribbons herein rcferred to may be one continuous ribbon having portions thereof differently colored,stops being provided at the ends of each colored portion to automatically shift the ribbon so long as a particular color is required. To change from one color to another the ribbon must be shifted by hand to carry the steps of the previous color out of the way of the trips and bring the stops of the required color in such relative position that they will automatically operate the trips in the manner herein set forth. Instead of a continuous ribbon and 9 located III) having portions differently colored it is obvious that short lengths of difierently colored ink ribbons may be provided and attached together in any well known manner to form in effect a continuous ribbon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by LettersPatent,

1. In a typewriting machine the combination with the ribbon shifting mechanism, and the carriage having an extension, of a trip having connection with the said ribbon shifting mechanism, an elevating arm to engage with the trip to project the same within the path of the extension on the carriage, and a shaft having a trip arm to be struck by a suitable stop on the ribbon and constructed to actuate the said elevating arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a typewriting machine the combination with a ribbon shifting mechanism, and the carriage provided with an extension, of a trip having connection with the said ribbon shifting mechanism, a counterbalanced shaft having a trip arm to be struck by a stop on the ribbon, and an elevating arm operated from the counterbalanced shaft to project the said trip connected with the ribbon shifting mechanism within the path of the extension on the carriage, substantially as described for the purpose specified' 3. In a typewriting machine the combination with the ribbon shifting mechanism, and the carriage having an extension of a trip having connection with the ribbon shifting mechanism, a counterweighted shaft having a trip arm to extend within the path of a stop on the ribbon, and an elevating arm connected with the said shaft and operated thereby to project the trip on the shaft mechanism within the path of the extension or stop on the carriage to produce a reverse of the ribbon on moving the carriage to the place of beginning, substantially as described.

4. In a typewriting machine -the combination with the ribbon shifting mechanism, and a spring arranged to exert a force to move the same in one direction, of a plate or bar having a projection to engage with a corresponding projection on the ribbon shifting mechanism to hold the latter at the limit of its movement against the tension of the said spring and a ribbon having a stop to operate the said plate or bar to release the said ribbon shifting mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a typewritingmachine the combination with the ribbon shifting mechanism, and

. a spring to exert a constant pressure thereon,

of a plate or bar having a projection to engage With a corresponding pro ection on the ribbon shifting mechanism to hold the latter at the limit of its movement against the tension of the spring, and a trip having connec-- tion with the said plate or bar and a ribbon having a stop to engage with the said trip to releasethe ribbon shifting mechanism, whereby a reverse of the ribbon is efiected by the said spring, substantiallyas set forth.

6. In a typewriting machine the combination'with the ribbon shifting mechanism, and a spring to move the same in one direction, of a plate or bar having a projection to engage with a corresponding projection onthe said ribbon shifting mechanism to holdthe latter at the limit of its movement against the pressure of the spring, and a trip connected with the said plate or bar and having parallel portions between which the ribbon passes and constructed to be operated by a stop on the said ribbon to effect a reverse of the shifting mechanism to reverse the ribbon, substantially in the manner set forth.

7. In a typewriting machine the combination of a ribbon provided with stops at the required distance apart, the ribbon shifting -mechanism, a trip carried by the said ribbon shifting mechanism and adapted to be struck by a portion of the carriage, a spring for moving the ribbon shifting mechanism in one direction,an elevating mechanism constructed to be operated by one of the stops on the ribbon to project the said trip within the path of the carriage, and a plate or bar having a pro ection to engage with a corresponding projection on the ribbon shifting mechanism to hold the latter against the pressure of the spring, and constructed to be actuated by the other stop on the ribbon to release the ribbon shifting mechanism, whereby a reverse of the ribbon is effected by means of the said spring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix mysign ature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED PHELPS STILES. Witnesses:

O. E. DAVENPORT, J. B. RICE.

IOC 

